The inaugural visit of the BIH Ambassador Elma Kovačević-Bajtal to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia | Photo: MOD/ F. Klen
The inaugural visit of the BIH Ambassador Elma Kovačević-Bajtal to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia
Defence Minister Ivan Anušić expressed a strong support of the Republic of Croatia for the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its accession to European political and security organizations
On Tuesday, 13 February 13 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić received the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Croatia, Elma Kovačević-Bajtal, at the Ministry of Defence.
At the meeting between Minister Anušić and Ambassador Kovačević-Bajtal, bilateral cooperation in the field of defence between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was confirmed, which is the most intensive in the field of training, given that part of the members and cadets from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina receive education in Croatia.
Current security challenges and the situation in SE Europe were also discussed. In this context, Minister Anušić pointed out that Croatia is focused on its immediate neighbourhood and on building a safe and stable environment.
On this occasion, the Minister expressed the support of the Republic of Croatia to the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We strongly support the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to European political and security organizations. This way is correct not only for the Croatian people in BIH, but also for the prosperity and security of the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Minister emphasized.
The Minister added that the assistance of Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina has never been more noticeable than in the last seven years and that it will remain to be so. The entry of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the EU and NATO is also of strategic importance for Croatia, as well as a stable and functional BIH.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a state of three constituent peoples, and the Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina are one of those three state-forming peoples”, Minister Anušić said and pointed out that Croatia rejects and condemns the separatism of a part of the political spectrum in BIH as well as attempts at unitarism, outvoting and imposing political representatives of one nation to another nation.
In the context of cooperation in the field of defence, the Minister said that Croatia appreciates and encourages the efforts of NATO and the European Union in providing support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in strengthening resilience within the framework of the European Instrument for Peace, which strengthens the capacities of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also pointed out that Croatia will continue to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in the development of capability goals, and cooperation in the exchange of information in crisis management will continue.
The Ambassador Kovačević-Bajtal expressed her gratitude to the Croatian side for the support that Croatia provides to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its Euro-Atlantic pathway and expressed her belief that successful cooperation in the field of defence will be run ahead.
